METH CLINIC GETTING CASH INJECTION

The Cornwallis Street doors of a methadone clinic will open as usual this
morning, after the provincial government came through with thousands of
dollars at the last minute.

Funding for Direction 180, a federal pilot project, runs out effective
today. Program director Cindy MacIsaac impressed the House of Commons
committee into the use of illegal drugs in Canada when it paid a visit to
Halifax last April. Ironically, MacIsaac said it's unlikely Ottawa will
give the program any more money.

Nova Scotia Health Minister Jane Purves said in January she would consider
helping, and is expected to formally announce a provincial commitment of
$240,000. That's enough to keep the clinic open for one more year.

MacIsaac told the Commons committee last April the program had doubled in
size to 60 clients in one year, and there were more than a dozen addicts
waiting to get in. That need has only grown, with 65 people getting
treatment this year, and another 20 waiting for help. MacIsaac estimates
there are as many as 700 opiate addicts in metro.

Most clients are men, aged 35 to 50, and MacIsaac said 95 per cent have
hepatitis C and are at risk of developing AIDS. Methadone is a pain killer
that reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms for people addicted to
opiates such as heroin and dilaudid. It is a liquid, which reduces the risk
of spreading disease through the use of needles.

Health Department spokeswoman Michelle Butler would not confirm how much
money the province will commit to the program.